BBF RFC 97
Genetic Circuit Standard (Version1.0)
Sept.27 2013
BBF RFC97: Genetic Circuit Standard 1.0
Lingjue Wang, Xiaodan Zhu, Hanrun Li, Huiyu He,
Zhuangdian Ni, Liqun Zhou,
September 26, 2013
1. Introduction:
Current, there is well adopted documentation of biobricks. The Registry of Standard Biology
Part set the standard documentation for biobrick. However, there is no standard way to
document a genetic circuit, what information should be included in a description of a genetic
circuit. We have therefore develop the technique standard for recording a genetic circuits. This
standard will help the sharing of genetic circuits’ information among synthetic biology
community.
2. Purpose
In order to make a distinct network which aims to help everyone to obtain the necessary
information of a Synthetic Biology project, we set up a new genetic design standard---- Genetic
Circuit Standard.
3. Relation to other BBF RFCs
Some parts of this paper reference the content of BBC RFC 89.
4. Copyright Notice
Copyright© the Biobricks Foundation (2013). All Rights Reserved.
5. Contents of Genetic Circuit Standard
5.1
Definition of Genetic Circuit
5.2
Fundamental component of Genetic Circuit
5.3
Description of the Genetic Circuit
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BBF RFC 97
Genetic Circuit Standard (Version1.0)
Sept.27 2013
5.4
The categorization of Genetic Circuit
5.5
The evaluation of the Genetic Circuit
5.6
The experimental data
5.7
The source & reference
5.8
The minimum information of submitting a project on Biomiao
community
 5.1 Definition of Genetic Circuit
A Genetic Circuit is a biological unit which could achieve specific function(s). In Parts Registry,
we found that some submitted parts can already be a functional unit. However, we consider
that those parts (which contain a series of Biobricks) have disorganized the Parts Registry and
we expect to DEVELOP a standard to solve the problem. The definition of Genetic Circuit can
be summarized as following points:
1)
A Genetic Circuit is composed of genetic Coding-frames.
2)
A Coding-frame is strictly defined as a combination of various biobricks. It MUST
contains four types of component: Promoter, RBS, Coding sequence, Terminator (If a
component hasn’t been registered in Parts Registry, at least it SHOULD be modularized
and standardized). Essentially, a Coding-frame is a DNA sequence.
3)
Different Coding-frames can influence each other with expressing various molecular
signals. They can also be stimulated by the surrounding factors (physical, biological,
chemical, etc.). In other words, Different Coding-frames can set up a logical regular
system (Such as an AND-gate relation). Therefore, a Genetic Circuit possesses outer
and inner logical relations. This is what the Part Registry can’t record.
4)
Each Genetic Circuit SHOULD be given some labels that we can sort it into the Mind
Road of the Bio-miao platform.
 5.2 Fundamental component of Genetic Circuit
A Genetic Circuit consists of Coding-frames. A Coding-frame consist of four types of biobrick
in the correct order: Promoter, RBS, coding sequence, terminator. Each component SHOULD
have an individual number in Parts Registry. If not, stating that how you modularized and
standardized the gene is RECOMMENDED.
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BBF RFC 97
Genetic Circuit Standard (Version1.0)
Sept.27 2013
 5.3 Description of the Genetic Circuit
The Description of a Genetic Circuit SHALL contain following information:
1) The function or purpose of the Circuit and how does it work.
2) All the components of your Circuit. [Coding-frames and the biobricks information]
3) The Circuit Diagram.
 5.4 The categorization of Genetic Circuit
We plan to sort all the circuit according to the practical function it can do. Then the Mind
Road will dynamically generate a series of bubbles that contains all the submitted circuits.
What submitter need to do is to write some labels that can precisely describe the potential
function(s) of your circuit. (Submitter can reference our web app Mind Road)
 5.5 The evaluation of the Genetic Circuit
All the Genetic Circuits SHOULD be given a probable evaluation. At present, we have three ranks.
 The 1st rank: The circuit is reported to be functional in peer-reviewed journals.)

The 2nd rank: The circuit is reported by one iGEM team
and independently successfully reproduced by another
iGEM team.

The 3rd rank: The circuit is reported by one iGEM team. In
the future, we will complete the evaluation standard.
 5.6 The experimental data
The Experimental data can well prove the conditions of the Genetic Circuit—whether it
successfully functions or it is still resting on a simply design or idea. The data is permitted to be
updated. We don’t need specially detailed data. The protocol of lab work is enough. This part is
relatively free. Share the circuit design is the most important job.
However, several things SHOULD be shown in this part of the Genetic Circuit: The cell type (chassis)
which the circuit applies in (E.g: Yeast/E.coli/ES cell), the plasmids information and the construction.
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BBF RFC 97
Genetic Circuit Standard (Version1.0)
Sept.27 2013
 5.7 The source & reference
This part will indicate the designer of the Genetic Circuit as well as their contact Email. The
reference will show the paper(s) or wiki link that provide more detailed information.
 5.8 The minimum information of submitting a project on Biomiao
community
All the projects MUST be uploaded on: http://sustc-genome.org.cn/igem2013/submit.html. To
submit and share a project on Biomiao community, the contributor MUST submit following
information at least: The project name; the authors; Year; Description; References (List the article
or wiki site). If the project has a diagram, the contributor SHOULD send it to Biomiao work team:
igem2013@sustc.edu.cn .
7. Author’s Contact Information
Lingjue Wang: sustc.mikewong@gmail.com
Xiaodan Zhu: zxdedgar@gmail.com
Zhuandian Ni: nileenstropy@gmail.com
Liqun Zhou: jimzhou225@gmail.com
Hanrun Li:
lizhongminde@126.com
Huiyu He:
howerhe@live.com
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